Cardinals chat with Derrick Goold

Bring your Cardinals questions and comments, and talk to Post-Dispatch baseball writers Rick Hummel and Derrick Goold in a live chat.

When Dexter Fowler was on the DL, the Cubs were 11-17. Do you think that the Cubs without Fowler will really swing 10 games towards the Cards?

by Mark S2/20/2017 9:53:45 PM

No. I think that is too many games. The Cubs are buttressed against such a dip.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 9:54:08 PM

Does Sandy Alcantara have much chance for the major league roster this year?

by JimTheCarpetLintGuy2/20/2017 9:54:10 PM

Slim. But he'll get discussed at some point during the season. For sure. He's going to create intrigue this spring, in the same way Trevor Rosenthal and Michael Wacha did in past springs that heralded their later major-league arrival that same season.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 9:54:57 PM

What's stood out to you the most after the first week about this team?

by Brian2/20/2017 9:55:02 PM

The pace of spring workouts. The wrinkles that have led to workouts being finished earlier and less downtime. The independent study time for players seems to have really been a hit, and more and more players are seeking out where and what they need to work on, doing it, and then getting out. There's not the eyewash of trying to be the last to leave the cage because the schedule says they should be.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 9:56:00 PM

Gentlemen--You may be the highest paid tag team since Gorilla Monsoon and Andre the Giant- Which non roster pitcher do you think has the best chance to make the squad ?

by Rick from NJ--2/20/2017 9:56:08 PM

Trick question: Eric Fryer. It's already a given. A sleeper, today would be Huffman or Schafer.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 9:56:28 PM

I think it's time for the Cardinals to promote Mozeliak to put him on a par with Theo Epstein for all that he's accomplished. Are you aware of any discussions of that kind?

by Brian2/20/2017 9:56:32 PM

Yes. They have had those discussions. DeWitt and Mozeliak have had those exact discussions about moving him up to a new title and having a general manager, in title, come in under him. DeWitt said it really comes down to title inflation because it wouldn't so much be a change in role or responsibilities. Mozeliak is a GM in name only. He does many more things than the typical GM, and some of his responsibilities are on par with what Epstein has in Chicago, even if his contract isn't. For example, when the Cardinals purchased Class AAA Memphis it was Mozeliak who led that movement and did the deal and figured out a way around the nettlesome structure of the Redbirds. He did that. That's not usual GM stuff. In the coming year, it's possible that Michael Girsch has more of a public presence and that will indicate that a move upstairs to a new title -- even if it's very similar in role -- is coming for Mozeliak.

This is the first spring where Mozeliak's contract does not extend as far as Matheny's. That's another indication of what the next evolution of his contract will look like and the timing of those discussions.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 9:59:39 PM

Do players have a routine physical after the season is over to find problems that can be dealt with over the offseason? It is disconcerting to find out a serious problem on the first day of camp(like Reyes' injury). I know he would be out the entire 2017 season regardless of when the problem was discovered, but it would be nice to know abot any problrms several months before the first day of spring training so that the injured player will definitely ready for the start of the 2018 season rather than the ambiguity of the date of Alex's return expressed by MO.

by Phil2/20/2017 9:59:41 PM

It is entirely possible that Reyes could have had an MRI taken of his elbow 10 days before the opening of camp and not had an issue uncovered. That is possible. Players do have a routine exit-evaluation, and they are also reviewed in January. The Cardinals medical staff sets up shop at the Winter Warmup, and as players come in to sign they also swing by the doctors for tests. That gives the team a good feel for where players are coming into spring training. It wasn't like Reyes left the exam in January, locked his elbow in bubble-wrap, and didn't move from a protective cushioned cell for the next three weeks. He got on the mound. He pitched. Pitching can cause injury. Jhonny Peralta reached for a groundball and blew apart his thumb ligament. The game causes injury. There was no telling Peralta's injury was coming.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:02:18 PM

Was the primary repair procedure not possible for Reyes? Did the team just not feel comfortable given that MLB pitchers haven't had it yet?

by Amir2/20/2017 10:02:21 PM

It was not possible for so many reasons. First, he had a rupture of the ligament that was not at the bone. For primary report the tear must be at one of the bones. Second, there is zero data on the recovery and success of major-league pitchers when it comes to primary repair. None. Seth Maness is the data and he only just signed with Kansas City. Teams aren't going to be sending young, upside pitchers to have this surgery -- and surgeons won't do it -- until there is another few years of information.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:03:57 PM

I think Grichuk could be our best left fielder in some time.He is athletic and has all of the tools.Agree with me?

by Mark2/20/2017 10:04:03 PM

Sure. He has the tools. No doubt.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:04:10 PM

Please complete these two sentences. The Cardinals will make the post season this year because..... The Cardinals will miss the post season again this year because.....

by Brian2/20/2017 10:04:15 PM

... their starting pitching was the best in the division, second or third best in the NL.... their starting pitching was undone by faulty defense and lack of innings due to injury.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:04:41 PM

Gentleman, Frankie Frisch deserves to have his number retired, his pic on the wall and a statue in the garden. Help get this done!

by TheGhostofBobBroeg2/20/2017 10:04:54 PM

For the 125th anniversary season? Seems appropriate. Would like to see Branch Rickey there first.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:05:18 PM

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:07:24 PM

How would I send a letter to someone in camp? Would I just send it to Rodger Dean Stadium with instructions to forward it to the player?

by JimTheCarpetLintGuy2/20/2017 10:07:30 PM

Exactly. That's a good way to do it, c/o Cardinals. Hummel appreciates fan mail.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:07:56 PM

Do you think that there will be a reevaluation of Reyes being ranked our #1 prospect?

by John Baker2/20/2017 10:08:02 PM

I suppose. Not sure it will change.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:08:17 PM

Looks like a lot of questions on pitching, so here's another one. What do you think the top 10-12 depth chart is for starting pitching?

by JP2/20/2017 10:08:33 PM

Uncertain when you're trying to go that deep. The Cardinals are sure up to about 7-8.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:08:50 PM

Derrick, I enjoyed reading Ortiz' piece on Dexter Fowler and travel ban. Based upon your observations would you say most MLB players are progressive or conservative - in general context?

by Dan2/20/2017 10:08:59 PM

I wasn't aware that you couldn't be conservative and progressive, but then a lot of our political language confuses me from time to time. Progressive used to be a good thing, right? Now it's not? Doesn't matter. Most players, by and large, are conservative.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:09:52 PM

DG mentioned that the set up for the practice fields had changed and fan access was limited. Can you explain?

by Dr. Mark2/20/2017 10:10:00 PM

There were new fences constructed around some of the fields that changed the traffic pattern and what fans could clearly see from one area of the campus. The back fields remain as they were.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:10:26 PM

Know the idea has been downplayed in the past ... but with the fifth rotation spot ope .... concerns about Wacha's ability to eat innings, and the desire to stretch Rosenthal out .... would a "flex start" situation with those two make some sense ... at least through the first 4-6 weeks of the season?

by Pete2/20/2017 10:10:31 PM

It's on the table again, and the Cardinals are going to end up there at some point this season. It may not be a full commit, but you're going to see it in June, July, even if it goes by a different name.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:11:01 PM

Anything interesting you can share with us yet re: seeing 1st hand or hearing 2nd hand regarding progress from the Secret Weapon with Delvin Perez?

If Luis Robert becomes available will the Cardinals make a play for him?

by strider3792/20/2017 10:11:23 PM

They are interested, I've had two sources tell me.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:11:44 PM

True or false: if Adam Wainwright wins more games than Jon Lester, the Cardinals will win the NL Central.

by Luke the Drifter2/20/2017 10:12:25 PM

I don't think one follows the other. This is not an If/Then scenario that makes sense. Lester could win twice as many games as Wainwright and Wainwright will have pitched better than Lester.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:12:57 PM

I was wondering your thoughts regarding lineup theory concerning playing Diaz in the cleanup spot - the reason being that if you had a 1-2-3 first inning, you begin again with another high obp hitter with good base running, who also offers RBI punch if the 1st goes well. So for instance, the lineup would look like: Fowler, Carpenter, Piscotty, Diaz, Grichuk, Molina, Peralta/Gyorko, Pitcher, Wong. Thoughts

by strider3792/20/2017 10:13:11 PM

I prefer to set a lineup by OBP, stacking it at the top to get as few outs as possible and as many people on base ahead of the cleanup and No. 5 as possible. Also you maximize the number of at-bats a player is going to get. A move from No. 2 to No. 5 would cost Diaz a few dozen plate appearances over the course of the season, and if he gets on base once every three times (conservatively) that's four times on base he'd miss for every dozen plate appearances he'd miss. Say he misses 36 PAs by batting lower, that's 12 times on base that he wouldn't have. Really, it's probably 15 or 16. That's runs, man. Runs matter. Maximize the OBP early. Put the K/HR guy at cleanup. Get a contact/doubles guy at No. 5. Crooked numbers happen.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:15:10 PM

Do you think that Mozeliak's approach is to be good enough to get into contention, then make a move closer to deadline?

by Jon2/20/2017 10:15:18 PM

That's how he built a team that won the World Series once, got there twice.

by Derrick Goold2/20/2017 10:15:36 PM

Hello P-D team, which starting pitchers should we expect to see getting an opportunity to start/pitch significant innings early on in camp, outside of the incumbent ~5 assumed in the rotation as of now?

by Darth Redbird2/20/2017 10:15:49 PM

Rosenthal. Weaver. Gomber. Gant. Alcantara. Mayers. They seem to be standing out so far. Lyons when he gets clearance to move off the mound.